Functions

President Nixon maintained a
close relationship with his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger.
Dr. Kissinger increased the size of the NSC staff from 12 to 34. Dr. Kissinger set NSC agendas, set up inter-departmental working groups to
prepare for NSC directives, created the NSC Review Group and issued National
Security Study Memoranda (NSSM) and National Security Decision Memoranda
(NSDM) which set forth needs for inter-agency policy papers.
[See Also: Henry A. Kissinger Office Files Collection]

Dr. Kissinger also set up
and chaired six NSC-related committees:

the Senior Review Group

the Washington Special Actions Group

the Verification Panel

the 40 Committee

the Intelligence Committee

the Defense Program Review Committee

Under Dr. Kissinger's
direction, the NSC also took over the responsibility of clearing policy cables to overseas
posts. He regularly participated in discussions with foreign state visitors and conducted
important business directly from his office. The White House became the foreign policymaker,
greatly reducing the Department of State's participation. In September 1973,
President Nixon appointed Henry Kissinger Secretary of State, replacing William
Rogers. Dr. Kissinger thus became the first and only individual to serve simultaneously
as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.
[See Also: Henry A. Kissinger Office Files Series Descriptions]